Apple cider vinegar is a natural powerhouse of goodness for all pets and humans.
While I have told people about this for years, I have never truly highlighted the wide range of benefits ACV has and how it can support the overall health of your dogs. It can help with itchy dogs, yeast infections, bladder stones, kidney concerns, and so much more.
Let's start with the basics
Apple cider vinegar with mother has antifungal, antibiotic, and antibacterial properties. It has been used for many years to support health worldwide and can be used for dogs too.
It's also cheap as chips: £3.50 for 500ml. Not many things have this much goodness for the price.
Top 5 Benefits of ACV for dogs
Digestive Health:
Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid, which may help regulate the pH levels in a dog's digestive system. This can aid in digestion and may alleviate symptoms of gastrointestinal upset, such as bloating, gas, and diarrhoea. Additionally, ACV is a mild probiotic, promoting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria.
Flea and Tick Repellent:
Can be used diluted apple cider vinegar as a natural flea and tick repellent. When applied topically or added to a dog's bathwater, ACV may help deter fleas and ticks from attaching to the dog's coat.
Skin and Coat Health:
The antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties of apple cider vinegar can help alleviate certain skin conditions in dogs, such as hot spots, itching, and inflammation. When diluted and applied topically, ACV can help soothe irritated skin and restore the skin's natural pH balance. There is evidence that ACV has antimicrobial properties. In particular, ACV can help restrict the growth of toxic bacteria like E. coli, S. aureus (staph infection) and yeast-like C. albicans (candida). This means you can use it to help manage infections in your dog including urinary tract infections.
Urinary Tract Health:
Apple cider vinegar is thought to help prevent the formation of urinary crystals and bladder stones in dogs by maintaining the acidic pH of the urine. This may reduce the risk of urinary tract infections and other urinary issues.
Cognitive Disorders
ACV may be able to help keep your dog’s mind sharp. Recent studies show that foods that contain phenolic compounds can help lower Alzheimer’s risk in humans. So they could help protect your dog from Canine Cognitive Disorder (CCD). ACV contains a number of these phenolic compounds including:
Gallic acid
Catechin
Caffeic acid
Epicatechin
Chlorogenic acid
P-coumaric acid
Whilst AVC is brilliant, not all Apple cider vinegar are equal. It is important to use a good quality with as little manufacturing process as possible.
I have chosen to support a lovely family-owned small producer. Ostler these are based in Devon and they are fully organic. This means I know that I am using the best quality for both me and the dogs. It is human-grade vinegar.
How to use it
This is probably the most important question. How do you safely give it to your dog?
If you are going to add it to your dog's diet for internal use it is vital that you give the dog a choice not to take it. So you can add a capful to their water but also give them a fresh water bowl too. They will drink it if they want or need it. Trust your dogs to self-select.
When using it for skin or yeast issues it is great to apply to the skin. Please remember that vinegar will sting if applied to an open wound. I recommend diluting it 50.50 as this reduces the sting and is tolerated well by most dogs. You can then spray on the affected area or use on cotton pad to clean the areas.
Please shout out if you would like more information or we can help you.
Thanks
Vicky
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